CHARLES DICKENS DOMBEY AND SON CHAPTER I Dombey and ...

Florence gently looked at her, and Miss Nipper checked herself.
'With Sir Barnet and his lady, I mean to say, Miss, and the young gentleman.
And two evenings since then.'
'When I was a child, and when company used to come to visit papa, did you
ever see that gentleman at home, Susan?' asked Florence.
'Well, Miss,' returned her maid, after considering, 'I really couldn't say I
ever did. When your poor dear ma died, Miss Floy, I was very new in the
family, you see, and my element:' the Nipper bridled, as opining that her
merits had been always designedly extinguished by Mr. Dombey: 'was the floor
below the attics.'
'To be sure,' said Florence, still thoughtfully; 'you are not likely to have
known who came to the house. I quite forgot.'
'Not, Miss, but what we talked about the family and visitors,' said Susan,
'and but what I heard much said, although the nurse before Mrs. Richards did
make unpleasant remarks when I was in company, and hint at little Pitchers,
but that could only be attributed, poor thing,' observed Susan, with
composed forbearance, 'to habits of intoxication, for which she was required
to leave, and did.'
Florence, who was seated at her chamber window, with her face resting on her
hand, sat looking out, and hardly seemed to hear what Susan said, she was so
lost in thought.
'At all events, Miss,' said Susan, 'I remember very well that this same
gentleman, Mr. Carker, was almost, if not quite, as great a gentleman with
your Papa then, as he is now. It used to be said in the house then, Miss,
that he was at the head of all your Pa's affairs in the City, and managed
the whole, and that your Pa minded him more than anybody, which, begging
your pardon, Miss Floy, he might easy do, for he never minded anybody else.
I knew that, Pitcher as I might have been.'